The 36-year-old West Brom midfielder will overtake Ryan Giggs’ Premier League record if he makes his 633rd appearance in the English top flight against the Gunners on Monday evening.

Barry won the 2011/12 league title with Manchester City, after completing a £12million move from Aston Villa in the summer of 2009, but Wenger also expressed a strong interest in the former England star before his move to the Etihad.

On Barry reaching the milestone this weekend, Wenger said: ‘It’s an outstanding achievement.

Arsene Wenger is an admirer of the West Brom midfielder (Picture: Getty)

‘He’s intelligent, determined, strong in the challenge. Good technically, I rated him highly.

‘He was unlucky being in the period of (Steven) Gerrard and (Frank) Lampard. It’s an exceptional achievement.’

Gareth Barry joined Manchester City in the summer of 2009 (Picture: Getty)

Wenger claims the financial might of City stopped Arsenal from landing the Englishman.

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He added: ‘We were interested in him, yes, when he moved from Villa to City.